Georgia Ports displays electric-powered gantry cranes

Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Curtis Foltz speaks during the unveiling of the first electrified rubber-tired gantry cranes (ERTG) during a ceremony, Friday, December 14, 2012, in Savannah, Ga. The ERTGs can switch from shore-based power when handling containers, to on-board diesel generators when moving between stacks. According to the GPA, the new technology reduces fuel consumption by an estimated 95 percent. (GPA Photo/Stephen Morton)

Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Curtis Foltz speaks during the unveiling of the first electrified rubber-tired gantry cranes (ERTG) during a ceremony, Friday, December 14, 2012, in Savannah, Ga. The ERTGs can switch from shore-based power when handling containers, to on-board diesel generators when moving between stacks. According to the GPA, the new technology reduces fuel consumption by an estimated 95 percent. (GPA Photo/Stephen Morton)

From left to right, Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Curtis Foltz, Tuomas Saastamoinen, KonecranesÕ Sales & Marketing Director, Lon Miller, CEO Conductix Wampfler, Americas and Murry Weaver, Georgia PowerÕs VP of Sales, pose during the unveiling of the first electrified rubber-tired gantry cranes (ERTG) during a ceremony, Friday, December 14, 2012, in Savannah, Ga. The ERTGs can switch from shore-based power when handling containers, to on-board diesel generators when moving between stacks. According to the GPA, the new technology reduces fuel consumption by an estimated 95 percent. (GPA Photo/Stephen Morton)

The Georgia Ports Authority unveiled its first electrified rubber-tired gantry cranes (ERTG) during a ceremony, Friday, December 14, 2012, in Savannah, Ga. The ERTGs can switch from shore-based power when handling containers, to on-board diesel generators when moving between stacks. According to the GPA, the new technology reduces fuel consumption by an estimated 95 percent. (GPA Photo/Stephen Morton)

From left to right, Georgia Ports Authority Executive Director Curtis Foltz, Tuomas Saastamoinen, KonecranesÕ Sales & Marketing Director, Lon Miller, CEO Conductix Wampfler, Americas and Murry Weaver, Georgia PowerÕs VP of Sales, pose during the unveiling of the first electrified rubber-tired gantry cranes (ERTG) during a ceremony, Friday, December 14, 2012, in Savannah, Ga. The ERTGs can switch from shore-based power when handling containers, to on-board diesel generators when moving between stacks. According to the GPA, the new technology reduces fuel consumption by an estimated 95 percent. (GPA Photo/Stephen Morton)

The Georgia Ports Authority unveiled its first electrified rubber-tired gantry cranes (ERTG) during a ceremony, Friday, December 14, 2012, in Savannah, Ga. The ERTGs can switch from shore-based power when handling containers, to on-board diesel generators when moving between stacks. According to the GPA, the new technology reduces fuel consumption by an estimated 95 percent. (GPA Photo/Stephen Morton)

The Georgia Ports Authority on Friday unveiled its first four electrified rubber-tired gantry cranes, which makes the port the first in North America to introduce that method of operation and reduces fuel consumption by an estimated 95 percent.

Georgia Ports Executive Director Curtis Foltz said the transition to the electrified rubber-tired cranes is an important milestone for the port and the industry.

“This project is the latest in a series of GPA initiatives designed to increase the productivity and capacity of the port in environmentally responsible ways,” Foltz said.

The new system was developed with the help of Konecranes, who provided the cranes; Conductix-Wampfler, who manufactured the power system and Georgia Power, who built the electrical infrastructure.

Through efforts such as electrifying ship-to-shore cranes and refrigerated container racks, the Port of Savannah avoids the use of more than 5.4 million gallons of diesel annually, port officials said, and the new cranes will further reduce the GPA’s fuel demand.

“Georgia Power’s partnership with the Georgia Ports Authority provides a great opportunity to further research and develop non-road electric transportation while adding value to the port’s day-to-day business,” said Murry Weaver, Georgia Power’s vice president of sales.

The new system will not only offer significant cost savings and environmental benefits, Weaver said, but will also position the GPA as a leading model for ports throughout the nation.

While relying on cleaner, shore-based power to handle containers, the electric-tire cranes feature the ability to automatically switch to diesel generators when moving from stack to stack. All functions are controlled by the crane operator.

The electric cranes are more reliable than diesel-powered versions with less downtime, said Chris Noback, GPA’s director of engineering. In addition, fewer hours of diesel-powered operation will mean reduced maintenance costs and extended diesel life.

Foltz said long-term plans call for retrofitting the Garden City Terminal’s fleet of diesel-powered rubber-tired cranes to use shore power via retractable arms that will link to a conductor rail system and bring the total number of electric cranes to 169 by 2022.

Repowering the cranes will be a multi-year initiative that will require new cranes to be ordered with electric power capabilities and some older cranes to be retrofitted. When it’s finished, the port will save 5.97 million gallons of diesel a year with a net annual savings of nearly $10 million even after the cost of electricity is considered.

“Our staff and technical partners have developed a cutting-edge tool that will help not only the GPA, but other ports around the nation to revolutionize container handling,” said GPA Board Chairman Robert Jepson. “Our ERTG design sets the pace for the industry by dramatically reducing the fuel consumption, diesel emissions and noise normally associated with older technology.”